Coupling

ABSTRACT

A system includes a body with a fluid passage therethrough, a first open end, and an opposite termination, a valve positioned within the body and including first and second ends, the valve moving between open and closed positions, the valve being biased into the closed position, and a seal positioned on the second end of the valve, the seal forming the closed position when the valve is biased towards the first open end of the body, and the seal engaging a shoulder formed by the body to retain the valve within the body. The seal is accessible from the termination of the body to allow the valve to be coupled to the body.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/240,132, filed Jan. 4, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 29/603,021, filed May 5, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No.D838,350), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.29/553,778, filed Feb. 4, 2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. D788,890), which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/650,914, filed Oct. 12,2012, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Quick disconnect couplings are used in various applications to connecttwo lines to create a fluid pathway therethrough. The couplingstypically include cooperating male and female couplings that form theconnection. A latch is used to connect the male and female couplings. Anexample of such a coupling is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,158 filed onMay 31, 1991, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Various components on the couplings can move to accomplish theconnection therebetween. For example, a latch of the female coupling (orbody) typically moves within the female coupling to connect the femalecoupling to the male coupling (or insert). Also, the male coupling istypically at least partially received within the female coupling toaccomplish the connection.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods forforming couplings. In one aspect, a female coupling includes a bodydefining a fluid pathway therethrough, and a slot extending transverselywith respect to the fluid pathway, and a latch positioned in the slot tomove between locked and unlocked positions. A mating male couplingdefining a fluid pathway forms the complete coupling.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an example coupling.

FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the coupling of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example body of the coupling of FIG.1A.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the body of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the body of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the body of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is perspective view of an example insert of the coupling of FIG.1A.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the insert of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the insert of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the insert of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a cross-section view of the coupling of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the body of FIG. 2 during assembly.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the insert of FIG. 6 duringassembly.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an example system including thecoupling of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 14 is another perspective of the system of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the system of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is another perspective view of the system of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an example fluid supply module.

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the fluid supply module ofFIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a side view of another embodiment of a body including twomaterials.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the body of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This application is directed to systems and methods for formingcouplings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show an example coupling 100 including a body 110(sometimes referred to as a female coupling) and an insert 120(sometimes referred to as a male coupling).

In the example shown, the insert 120 is being coupled to the body 110 bya clip or latch 130. The body 110 and the insert 120 together form afluid passage way therethrough. The latch 130 moves in a direction thatis generally transverse to the longitudinal direction of the fluidpathway to couple the body 110 and the insert 120, as described furtherbelow.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, the body 110 is shown. The body 110 includesan opening 230 into which the insert 120 is inserted. The latch 130includes a main body 210 that moves within a slot 220. In FIG. 2, thelatch 130 is in a resting or locked position. The latch 130 can bebiased or forced into the locked position using an integral cantileveror spring 131. The latch 130 is moved in a direction A within the slot220 of the body 110 to an unlocked position. The latch 130 can be movedto this position to, for example, connect or release the portion of theinsert 120 that is introduced through the latch 130.

The body 110 houses a valve 250 positioned therein. The valve 250 isbiased by a spring 258 to a closed position as shown in FIG. 5. Uponmating with the insert 120, the valve 250 is moved backwards to an openposition so fluid can flow therethrough. The body 110 also includes atermination 240. In this example, the termination 240 is a barbedtermination that can be secured to a conduit, as described below. Otherterminations can be used. For example, in an alternative design, thetermination can be a separate part that is joined to the body.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, the insert 120 is shown. The insert 120includes a front portion 410 and a termination portion 420. The frontportion 410 can be inserted into the opening 230 in the body 110 andthrough the latch 130 to couple the insert 120 to the body 110 and toform the fluid pathway therethrough. A seal 411 seals the insert 120within the inner diameter of the body 110. See FIG. 10, described below.The termination portion 420 remains outside the body 110 so that thetermination portion 420 can be connected to another structure, such as acontainer or a conduit containing a fluid (e.g., liquid or gas).

The insert 120 houses a valve 450 positioned therein. The valve 450 isbiased by a spring 458 to a closed position as shown in FIG. 9. Uponmating with the body 110, the valve 450 is moved backwards to an openposition so that fluid can flow therethrough.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the body 110 and the insert 120 are shown inthe coupled state. In this state, the valves 250, 450 are in the openpositions so that fluid can flow therethrough. During mating of the body110 and the insert 120, the valves 250, 450 contact and push against oneanother to move the valves 250, 450 backwards to open the fluid path asshown.

In this example, front portions 252, 452 of the valves 250, 450 form a“make before you break” connection, in that a seal 254 on the valve 250and a seal 454 on the valve 450 are unseated after the valves 250, 450are coupled so that there is little or no loss of any fluid flowingthrough the coupling 100 when the body 110 and the insert 120 areuncoupled.

When coupled as shown in FIG. 10, the latch 130 is accepted into a latchgroove 530 formed on the insert 120. See FIGS. 9 and 10. In thisexample, the latch groove 530 is angled from a beginning 532 to an end534 of the latch groove 530. Specifically, the latch groove 530 forms asmaller outer diameter at the beginning 532 and a larger outer diameterat the ending 534. This generally forms a slope for the latch groove530. In other examples, the slope can be more or less pronounced or canbe formed in other configurations, such as stepped, etc. A correspondingstructure 135 on the latch 130 can be configured in a complementaryshape, or can simply be formed in a different geometry, such as a flatportion without any slope.

One possible advantage of forming the latch groove 530 in this manner isthat there is additional material forming the insert 120 at the end 534of the latch groove 530. This material can function to strengthen theinsert 120 at this juncture and help resist breakage of the insert 120at the latch groove 530.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the body 110 and the insert 120 can beassembled as follows. Initially, the body 110 and the insert 120 can bemolded using a known technique, such as injection molding, using apolymeric material such as acetal, nylon, polypropylene, acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene, polycarbonate, polysulfone, etc. The valves 250, 450can be formed in a similar manner. Other techniques, such as metalinjection molding and/or machining, can also be used.

Next, for the body 110, the spring 258 is placed on the valve 250, andthe valve 250 is introduced into the opening 230 formed in the body 110.The valve 250 is compressed in a direction X against the spring 258until in the position shown in FIG. 11. In this position, an end 270 ofthe valve 250 is accessible from an opening 242 formed in thetermination 240 so that the seal 254 can be placed in a seal groove 272formed in the end 270 of the valve 250. In this example, the seal 254 isan O-ring.

Once the seal 254 is in position, the valve 250 can be released,allowing the spring 258 to force the valve 250 forward until the seal254 engages a shoulder 244 formed in the termination 240. In thisposition, the seal 254 resists further forward biasing by the spring 258so that the valve 250 is retained in the body 110. In addition, with theseal 254 engaging the shoulder 244, fluid flow through the body 110 isstopped.

The insert 120 is similarly assembled by forcing the valve 450 and thespring 458 through the insert 120 until a seal groove 472 is accessiblethrough the termination portion 420. The seal 454 is then placed in theseal groove 472 to maintain the valve 450 within the insert 120 and toseal the insert 120 when the valve 450 is in the closed position.

Referring now to FIGS. 13-16, an example system 500 incorporating thebody 110 and the insert 120 is shown.

In this example, the system 500 includes a container 510 that is sizedto hold a fluid, such as gasoline or another fuel. In this example, thecontainer 510 is used as a source of fuel for a boat or other vehicle.Other configurations are possible.

The container 510 includes a cap 512 that can be rotated to affix orremove the cap 512 from the container 510. The cap 512 can be removed tointroduce additional fluid into the container 510. Once filled, the cap512 is replaced to maintain the fluid in the container 510.

The container 510 also includes a vent 514 configured to maintain theinterior of the container 510 at a given pressure. For example, the vent514 can be configured to let fluid (e.g., air) into and/or out of thecontainer 510 as necessary to compensate for removal of density from thecontainer (e.g., make-up air) and/or the expansion and contraction ofthe fluids contained within the container 510.

The container 510 further includes a fluid supply module 516 with a base520 that is coupled to the container 510. The fluid supply module 516includes a fluid passage that extends from the base 520 to an opening518. A hose barb extends into the container 510 (see, e.g., hose barb621 in FIGS. 17-18). When connected to the container 510 as shown, fluidfrom within the container 510 can be drawn through the fluid passage tothe opening 518.

The opening 518 is threaded to correspond with threads on thetermination portion 420 of the insert 120. The insert 120 is screwedinto the opening 518 to couple the insert 120 to the fluid supply module516. Other mounting configurations are possible.

In this configuration, the insert 120 is in fluid communication with thefluid in the container 510. The valve 450 closes the insert 120 so thatthe fluid within the container 510 does not escape until the insert 120is mated with the body 110.

The termination 240 of the body 110 is connected to tubing 532 thatextends to a destination for the fluid, such as an engine of the boat.When the body 110 is connected to the insert 120, the valves 250, 450are moved to their open positions, thereby allowing fluid to flow fromthe container 510, through the fluid supply module 516 and insert120/body 110, and through the tubing 532 to a desired destination.

When the fluid within the container 510 is depleted, the body 110 can bedisconnected from the insert 120 by actuating the latch 130 and removingthe body 110 from the insert 120. The valves 250, 450 close as the body110 is removed so that the flow of fluid through the body 110 and theinsert 120 is stopped. Once disconnected, the container 510 can beremoved and refilled, as needed.

Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, an alternative design for a fluidsupply module 616 is shown. In this example, the fluid supply module 616includes an insert module 618 that is configured in manner similar tothat of the insert 120 described above. However, the insert module 618is molded as an integral part of the fluid supply module 616. The insertmodule 618 is sized to be coupled to the body 110 and includes the valve250 to allow fluid to flow therethrough.

The fluid supply module 616 also includes a termination 620 that isconfigured in a manner similar to that of the opening 518. Thetermination 620 is threaded to allow a legacy fluid line to be connectedthereto. The termination 620 can be closed with a plug 622 that isthreaded onto the termination 620 when not in use. In this manner, thefluid supply module 616 is configured to allow for backwardscompatibility with existing infrastructure.

Referring now to FIGS. 19 and 20, another example of a body 710 isshown. The body 710 is similar to that of the body 110 described above,except that the body 710 is formed of a first portion 715 and a secondportion 720. The first and second portions 715 and 720 are affixed toone another to form the body 110.

In one example, the first and second portions 715, 720 are coupled by awelding technique, such as by sonic welding, staking, adhesive, etc., orby insert molding or by pressing or a snap fit. The first and secondportions 715, 720 can be made of different materials to accommodatedifferent applications. For example, in one application, the firstportion 715 is made of a polymeric material, and the second portion 720is made of a metal material, such as brass. This allows for the secondportion 720 to be more easily terminated for different applications andto be manufactured more cost-effectively. The different materials canalso exhibit other benefits, such as added strength and allowance formolding of complete geometries, such as those exhibited by the body.Other configurations are possible.

Various modifications and alterations of this disclosure will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeand spirit of this disclosure, and it should be understood that theinventive scope of this disclosure is not to be unduly limited to theillustrative embodiments set forth herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A male fluid coupling, comprising: an insertmember defining a bore and a longitudinal axis, the insert member havinga front end portion and a termination end portion on opposing ends ofthe insert member, wherein the insert member also defines acircumferential groove configured to receive a latch of a female fluidcoupling when the male fluid coupling is coupled with the female fluidcoupling, wherein the circumferential groove extends fully around acircumference of the insert member and includes a first surface disposedbetween opposing first and second wall surfaces of the insert member,and wherein the first surface: (i) is sloped at a first acute anglerelative to the longitudinal axis, (ii) extends at a second acute anglerelative to the first wall surface, and (iii) extends at an obtuse anglerelative to the second wall surface.
 2. The male fluid coupling of claim1, further comprising a first seal coupled to the front end portion ofthe insert member and configured to seal against the female fluidcoupling when the male fluid coupling is coupled with the female fluidcoupling.
 3. The male fluid coupling of claim 1, further comprising avalve positioned within the bore.
 4. The male fluid coupling of claim 3,further comprising a spring, wherein the valve is biased by the springto a closed position.
 5. The male fluid coupling of claim 4, furthercomprising a valve seal coupled to a rear end portion of the valve,wherein the valve seal seats against an internal shoulder of the insertmember while the valve is in the closed position, the valve seal and theinternal shoulder being separated while the valve is in an open positionin which fluid can flow through the bore.
 6. The male fluid coupling ofclaim 5, wherein the valve seal is accessible from the termination endportion of the body, and wherein the valve is retained within the boreof the insert member because the valve seal seats against the internalshoulder.
 7. The male fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the opposingfirst and second wall surfaces are parallel to each other.
 8. The malefluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the first acute angle extends towardthe longitudinal axis along a direction from the termination end portionto the front end portion.
 9. A male fluid coupling, comprising: aninsert member defining a bore and a longitudinal axis, the insert memberhaving a front end portion and a termination end portion on opposingends of the insert member, wherein the insert member also defines acircumferential groove configured to receive a latch of a female fluidcoupling when the male fluid coupling is coupled with the female fluidcoupling, wherein the circumferential groove extends fully around acircumference of the insert member and includes: (i) a first surface and(ii) a wall surface that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, andwherein the first surface: (i) is sloped at a first acute angle relativeto the longitudinal axis, and (ii) extends at a second acute anglerelative to the wall surface.
 10. The male fluid coupling of claim 9,wherein the circumferential groove further includes a second wallsurface that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
 11. The malefluid coupling of claim 10, wherein the first surface extends at anobtuse angle relative to the second wall surface.
 12. The male fluidcoupling of claim 9, further comprising a first seal coupled to thefront end portion of the insert member and configured to seal againstthe female fluid coupling when the male fluid coupling is coupled withthe female fluid coupling.
 13. The male fluid coupling of claim 9,further comprising a valve positioned within the bore.
 14. The malefluid coupling of claim 13, further comprising a spring, wherein thevalve is biased by the spring to a closed position.
 15. The male fluidcoupling of claim 14, further comprising a valve seal coupled to a rearend portion of the valve, wherein the valve seal seats against aninternal shoulder of the insert member while the valve is in the closedposition, the valve seal and the internal shoulder being separated whilethe valve is in an open position in which fluid can flow through thebore.
 16. The male fluid coupling of claim 15, wherein the valve seal isaccessible from the termination end portion of the body, and wherein thevalve is retained within the bore of the insert member because the valveseal seats against the internal shoulder.
 17. The male fluid coupling ofclaim 9, wherein the first acute angle extends toward the longitudinalaxis along a direction from the termination end portion to the front endportion.